Detachable antislip device



June 2, 1959 F. c. MILLER I DETACHABLE ANTISLIP DEVICE Filed March 3,1958 R m R Y m M m Mm VK W NN A A R Cry 8 n 2 :m

United States Patent DETACHABLE ANTISLIP DEVICE Frank C. Miller,Phoenix, Ariz.

Application March 3, 1958, Serial No. 718,727

4 Claims. (Cl. 36-7.7)

The present invention relates to a device which may be applied to thesoles of shoes to provide the wearer with means to obtain a securefoothold when walking or climbing.

A device of this type has numerous applications in various fields underconditions where it is desirable or necessary to obtain a greater thannormal frictional contact between the sole of the shoe and the terrain,as for example when employed for use in various sports which require afirm foothold, as in golf, baseball or in hillclimbing.

The present device is so constructed and arranged as to make practicaland eifective an antislipping appliance which may be applied to orremoved from the shoe by a simple operation in the absence of anymechanical adjustments. By reason of the simplicity of its applicationand removal, the present device may serve the needs of not only theactual participants in a sport such as golf, but finds use by others whotravel the course as spectators.

Various forms of calks or cleats for shoes have heretofore beenproposed, all of which required certain mechanical adjustments afterapplication to the shoe and readjustment prior to removal. Devices ofthis type have their use but require an appreciable amount of time andeffort for application and removal and are cumbersome and unwieldy,especially in cases where a temporary or relatively limited use of thedevice is required.

The present invention provides a calk or cleat device which may beattached by the simple operation of drawing the cleat device over thesole of the shoe, whereupon the adjustment to secure the device to thesole of the shoe is automatic and the device is locked in position foruse. The removal is equally as simple since a release of one portion ofthe device results in a complete release. The entire operation is on theorder of the insertion and removal of the foot into and out from anordinary low shoe or oxford.

By reason of the construction and cooperative arrangement of the severalparts of which the present device is composed, it may be quickly andconveniently secured or removed when applied to shoe soles of varyingsizes.

The advantages and objects of the invention will be more clearlyunderstood by reference to the following description together with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the device applied to the soleof a shoe;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the surface of the device to receive thesole of the shoe; and

Fig. 3 is a view taken in cross section on line IlI-III in Fig. 2.

As disclosed in the drawing, one practical embodiment of the inventionincludes two arcuate metal strips termed plate-members and 11 hingedlyconnected at adjacent ends 13 and 14 by pivot pin 15, which pin alsosecures a clip-member or clamp 16 in position to engage the forward edgeof a sole 12 of shoe 12. Each plate-member the may be provided with aplurality of spaced apart cleats or spikes 20. These spikes may be inthe form of separate members riveted or otherwise secured to what may betermed the under sides of the plate-members, or they may be punched orformed from the sheet material of the plate-members.

Intermediate the ends of the plate-members and extending outwardlytherefrom are clip-members 17 adjustably attached to the plate-members.These lateral clipmembers or clamps 17 are secured by and are free toswivel about rivets 18 to permit free adjustment to accommodatevariations in the contour of the edge of a shoe sole to assure firmcontact with shoe soles of various sizes.

Ends 19 and 21 of the plate-members are connected and retained in normalspaced relation by one portion 22 of what may be termed a retainer 23.This retainer-member 23 is formed from a sheet of elastic material, asfor example, rubber of a selected thickness, and'includes a loop portion24. which extends beyond the ends 19 and 21 of the plate-members. Thesaid portion 22 of the retainermember 23 is secured to ends 19 and 21 ofthe platemembers by means of rivet pins 24 and 25 which also attachclip-members 26 and 27 to ends 19 and 21 respectively of plate-members19 and 11. The clip-members 26 and 27 are so arranged as to swivel aboutthe pins 24 and 25 to permit adjustment as in the case of clip-members17.

The portion 22, of retainer member 23, serves as a tension-member which,when contracted, holds the ends 19 and 21 of the plate-members in fixednormal spaced relation but permits limited separation of theplatemembers about their hinged connection when force is applied.

When the present antislip device is applied to a shoe, the ends 19 and21 of the plate-members are separated in opposition to the elastictension-member 22. The platemembers may then be placed into contact withthe sole of the shoe and the clip-members adjusted to engage the edge ofthe sole. Since the lateral clip-members are movable about their pivots,the device is readily fitted to the shoe sole with the clip-membersengaging the sole edge as the plate-members are permitted to movetogether, at which time the forward clip-member 16 is engaged with thefront end of the sole. When so positioned, the loop portion 24. ofretainer-member 23 is expanded and then permitted to contract about theheel of the shoe, thereby exerting tensional stress to maintain thedevice in firm operative relation to the shoe.

It will be evident that inasmuch as the loop 24 when contracted ornormal is relatively small, the enlargement of the loop, when expandedabout the heel, exerts a pull on the tension-member or portion 22. Thisportion is then distorted and exerts a pull between the ends 19 and 21of plate-members 10 and 11. The plate-members being pivoted at theirends serve to hold the clip-members in fixed relation to the sole of theshoe, and since the lateral clipmembers are movable about their pivots,they are automatically adjusted to provide firm contact with the edge ofthe sole.

When the device is to be removed, the loop 23 is expanded and releasedfrom the heel. This results in the automatic removal of the addedtension applied to the ends of the plate-members, due to the expansionof portion 22, whereby the clip-members may be readily disengaged withthe sole edge and the device put in condition to be easily removed.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and describedherein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable antislip device to be applied to the sole of a shoe,comprising a pair of arcuate plate-members, means for hingedlyconnecting said plate-members at adjacent ends" thereof, atension-member of elastic sheet material connected to and normallyserving to hold oppositeends of said plate-members in spaced relation,clipmembers disposed along the edges of said plate-members and pivotallyattached thereto for adjustable contact with the edge of a shoe solewhen said plate-members are separated in opposition to tension exertedby the tensionmember, said tension member when released serving to holdsaid clip-members in adjusted contacting relation with the edge of saidsole.

2. A detachable antislip device to be applied to the sole of a shoe,comprising a pair of plate-members pivotally connected at adjacent endsthereof, a plurality of clipmembers mounted on said plate-members, aretainer member consisting of elastic sheet material, including atension-portion connecting opposite ends of said platemembers and a loopportion for disposition about the heel of said shoe whereby saidretainer member will secure the device on the shoe and lock theclip-members in firm contact with the edge of said sole.

3. A detachable antislip device to be applied to the sole of a shoe,comprising a pair of plate-members hingedly connected at adjacent endsthereof, a plurality of clipmembers pivotally' mounted on saidplate-members; a tension-member formed from elastic sheet materialconnecting opposite ends of said plate-members, a loop portion ofelastic sheet material integral with said tensionmember for dispositionabout the heel of said shoe to hold the device in place and to exertstress to contact said tension-member between the ends of saidplate-members to hold said clip-members in firm, adjusted contact withthe edge of the sole of the shoe.

4. A detachable antislip device to be applied to the sole of a shoe,comprising a pair of arcuate plate-members, clip-members adjustablymounted on said plate-members, means for hingedly connecting adjacentends of said platemembers, an elastic sheet-member, one portion of saidsheet-member serving as a tension-member between opposite ends of saidplate-members,-a loop-member integral with said tension-member fordisposition about the heel of said shoe to hold said plate-members infirm contact with said sole and to stress said tension-member to retainsaid clip-members in firm contact with the edge of said sole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,631,877 McNeil June 7, 1927 2,183,988 Derwing Dec. 19, 1939 FOREIGNPATENTS 70,208 Norway Mar. 25 1946" 2389/1881 Great Britain May 31,1881'

